Housing project could boost University Ave. development

The former Packerland Packing beef processing plant site on University Avenue, shown at the back, could be redeveloped as a residential site if the city secures a $1 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.(Photo: Richard Ryman/Press-Gazette Media)Buy Photo

The city is seeking a $1 million grant for structure demolition and environmental mitigation of the former Packerland Packing Co. beef processing plant, 2580 University Ave., so the land can be used for residential development.

In return on the $1 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the city anticipates $20 million in development.

"You need a catalyst project to move things forward and we are thinking this might be one," said Wendy Townsend, project manager with the city's Economic Development Department.

TMD Properties LLC, an investment group headed by longtime commercial real estate broker Todd DeVillers, has a letter of intent with the city. His company, RE Commercial LLC, is headquartered in Appleton, but DeVillers has been involved in a number of Green Bay-area projects through the years.

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The former Packerland Packing beef processing plant site on University Avenue could be redeveloped as a residential site if the city secures a $1 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.(Photo: Richard Ryman/Press-Gazette Media)

The eastern end of University Avenue includes the Veteran Administration's new Milo C. Huempfner Outpatient Clinic. The Packerland site is three miles from Bay Beach Amusement Park, four miles from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and 16 miles from Our Lady of Good Help shrine in Champion, which is experiencing increased traffic since being designated an approved Marian Shrine by the Catholic Church.

In other words, the area is under-served by hotels for tourists and residential development that would appeal to doctors and college professors.

"We would like to see it developed into something that is not already in the community; urban-modern solutions for professionals," Townsend said.

The site could be an attractive place for residential units. It sits on a hill overlooking University Avenue to the north and the Baird Creek Trail and Triangle Sports Area to the south and east. Industrial now, it could be turned into an attractive residential area.

"It would be quite the view as you come down the University Avenue corridor and it would certainly be noticeable," Townsend said.

The 33 acres also includes an unused gas station at the bottom of the hill which would be removed.

TMD is conducting due diligence and it is very early in the process, so anything is possible at this point, but securing the grant would be a big step forward.

The city applied for the WEDC grant last year as well, but Townsend said that with a new University Avenue Corridor Brownfield Redevelopment Plan nearing final approval, it should have a better shot this year.

JBS, which acquired Packerland Packing from Smithfield Foods in 2008, moved all its local operations to the plant on Lime Kiln Road. The property hasn't attracted much interest as an industrial site, Townsend said.

"I think that section there is just forgotten. We want to take all that down and feature it," she said.

Townsend said the city's also had inquires about the former Tillman Landscape Nursery site about a half-mile east on University, though nothing specific has been suggested.

— rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette. Contact him at (920) 431-8342.